Future Man

I've been tossing about an idea in my head for the past few months that I think is perfect for the theme of #Imaginarium. I'm trying to rush this out for June 6th but I'm not sure how to dig into my idea, so I would just like to apologize in advance for any meandering I do getting at the points I would like to make. 
Retro-futurism is faciniating. The narrative of mankind enobling itself by exploding out into the scientific world of facinating and intricate machenery for the betterment of life, is quite a compelling narrative. We have lost grand narratives of this kind as a fundimental driving force in society in the modern age, no doubt in part due to postmodernism on the left and a fear of propaganda on the right. This is a tragic turn of events. 

There is something magical about living out a grand narrative, you are participating in something deeper and more real than even you are, you are part of something that elevates your soul in some sense. The power of story and narrative is something that I've wanted to wrap my head around, especially in this materialist, hard facts, modern society that in some ways despises fiction and fantasy. During contemplation about this I stumbled upon a realization so deep that I still don't know what to think about it.

The proper place for an enlightened being is in the world of pretend play, for there is no suffering created in this space. I ask you to take a minute and really contemplate and meditate on this point, to take it as I say it, also to take it in your own way. Ponder it, wonder what layers of meaning could be extracted from this realization.

I don't mean something like that during play someone can't get poked in the eye or that feelings can't be hurt, or something silly like that. But more that soldiers on the battlefield can and do die, whereas after a paintball match despite a few bruises everyone comes back together and grabs a few pints. Part of the fun and excitement of paintball IS that you can get hurt, getting tagged is painful. That's the point in some sense, it adds to the experience, instead of detracting from it. Its good that paintballs can hurt.

That experience can only heightened by pretend play and developing the metaphor of paintball. Children who play war games act out their heroism and deaths with tremendous gusto, screaming, laughing and dramatizing the experience of their game with the lighthearted pretense at really dying in battle. This is the right way to play at something. To act out the drama of it and laugh. 

Somehow, it doesn't seem like people know how to do this kind of play and incorporate it into their daily lives. Children remember, some couples seems to have it right, always finding ways to be playful with each other. Even in play domains most interactions lack a sense of levity and playful dramatization that should be an expected component of heightening the experience. It makes me wonder why we've forgotten how to play.

Play in some sense is acting, dramatizing, creating an imaginary reality to explore when the physical world is not threatening. You can't pretend in a life or death situation, you need to be fully engaged with the physical world. But the physical world is often mundane, we are not mundane beings. We are consciousness, we are the universe knowing itself, or as Yoda says. "Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." 

We shouldn't be only concerned with the physical world, yes we can understand it and systematize our knowledge of it, yes it can kill us. But we are consciousness. We can create worlds of all kinds with our minds, we can imagine the most mysterious, magical and fantastic places. We can inhabit them and fill ourselves with wonder. Or we can be cynical. 

Although I love the vision and sense of destiny and elevation it brings, I don't think that the correct vision for Future Man is purely scientific man; A wizard of machines and arcane chemical processes. I think Future Man will engage deeply with the potential of pretend, imagination and story. Not for any cynical reason, or even through a need for delusion but rather with a wholehearted engagement with our most magnificent gift as human beings, the joys of imagination as its own reward. 

There is no reason why Future Man can't be you. As an adult playing pretend can feel silly at first. But if you wade through your cynicism it is immediately fun, even as you feel ridiculous and silly for doing it. It's true that part of adulthood is moving past pretend as a mode of being, but that is only because adults are expected to be responsible. As an example, its true you need to cook dinner. That doesn't in any way mean that you can't prepare a banquet for the royal table, at which your family dines. Remember that it's off with your head if the meal isn't perfect! Adopt play as a way of life. Small little things, a moment at a time. Life should be fun, live a fun life. Live life with one foot in the physical world, one foot in your imagination. Share the gift of imagination with others. The joy of play is contagious, as any child knows. You will discover all new forms of friendship you might have thought long lost and forgotten. Give it a try, imagination is our birth right. 

#Imaginarium